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Today:
The same badge-scan strategy used in Tesla layoffs has hit federal workers
NEWS | 02 April 2025
"I was crying the entire drive to work today," an HHS employee told Business Insider as they waited in line. The badge-swiping tactic appeared similar to one used by Tesla, the electric-vehicle maker helmed by DOGE's de facto head, Elon Musk. In 2024, some employees told BI they arrived at work and discovered they had been axed when their badges failed to work. Other federal agencies have announced plans to reduce their workforces, but each agency is carrying out those plans differently. Federal workers across the board have been in limbo while their agencies develop these reorganization plans.

Top Stories:
The pain Trump said Americans will feel is already here
NEWS | 02 April 2025
President Donald Trump's tariff plans might not be in full force yet — but Americans are feeling the strain. One of those developments is Trump's tariff plans; Trump has maintained that his trade policies would bring in revenue and restore jobs but acknowledged in February that Americans would feel "some pain" as a result. While Trump has also said that his plans would promote production in the US, the uncertainty is leaving markets, businesses, and Americans on edge. Additionally, some companies have been preparing to raise prices in anticipation of Trump's tariff plans. However, the president told reporters on March 23 that he "may give a lot of countries a break."

World:
Meet the tiny investment bank behind Newsmax's rip-roaring stock debut
NEWS | 02 April 2025
The principal investment bankers of Digital Offering, an independent firm that advised Newsmax in its public offering. The principal investment bankers of Digital Offering, an independent firm that advised Newsmax in its public offering. Digital Offering advises companies valued at $1 billion or less — what's considered small potatoes for some bulge-bracket shops. "They want us to help them," he said of this type of stock offering. Digital Offering saw Newsmax as the right candidate for a Regulation A+ offering because of its consumer appeal.

Current Events:
Meta loses its AI research head, as billions in investments hang in the balance
NEWS | 02 April 2025
Meta's head of artificial intelligence research, Joelle Pineau, is leaving the company at a time when the tech giant is pouring billions into AI development to keep pace with industry rivals. Pineau, who joined Facebook in 2017 and served as the vice president of AI research and the leader of Meta's Fundamental AI Research group, announced her departure on LinkedIn on Tuesday. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has prioritized AI at Meta, committing as much as $65 billion to AI-related projects this year. Zuckerberg aims to make Llama the industry standard worldwide and believes Meta's AI chatbot, available across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, could reach a billion users this year. As of December, 600 million users accessed Meta AI each month.

News Flash:
Elon Musk and DOGE are on the ballot tonight
NEWS | 02 April 2025
Elon Musk and the White House DOGE office will get early reviews from voters Tuesday night in a pair of elections in Wisconsin and Florida. Wisconsinites will vote for their next state Supreme Court justice and could hand conservatives a narrow majority — in a race where Musk, via PACs, has spent $12 million. Musk brought attention to the Wisconsin Supreme Court race by donning a "Cheesehead" hat and giving away $1 million checks. Trump has steadfastly defended Musk, even hawking Teslas on the White House lawn. Vulnerable House Republicans have begun to criticize the DOGE office more frequently.

Sponsored:
SmartSync Data Sync App
SPONSORED | 02 April 2025
SmartSync is a mobile application, compatible with any Android smartphone, that syncs your important data to your email. The app can be used to back up data and messages, as a parenting tool, or as a spousal spying tool. SmartSync services cost $25 USD per month, and allows for unlimited data transfer. The app can be found Here

Latest:
Millennium and Citadel lose money for the second straight month in a turbulent March
NEWS | 02 April 2025
This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Izzy Englander's Millennium lost 1.2% in March, a person close to the $75 billion hedge fund told Business Insider, bringing its 2025 losses to 2%. Meanwhile, Ken Griffin's Citadel lost 0.5% over the month in its flagship Wellington fund, which is down 0.9% for the year. "Spoke to a lot of other fund managers this weekend," wrote Gavin Baker, the founder of Atreides Management, a crossover fund focused on tech and consumer companies, on X Monday. Related stories Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to knowThe firms listed either declined to comment or did not immediately return requests for comment.

Breaking:
Newsmax is worth $16 billion? Here's what's going on.
NEWS | 02 April 2025
If you want to invest in a media company, invest in a media company. If you want to invest in a company in the loosely regulated supplement industry, invest in a company in the loosely regulated supplement industry. Newsmax is a meme stock, and people who invest in meme stocks don't care about financials or risk factors or much else. And/or: They think that other meme stock investors will buy it for that reason, so they buy shares hoping to capitalize on the enthusiasm. At Newsmax's stock price late Tuesday, investors were telling each other the company was worth $15.8 billion.

Trending:
Gen Z Flocks to Tumblr, the One Social Media Millennials Didn't Ruin
NEWS | 02 April 2025
In a poll of more than 600 Zoomers that DCDX conducted in 2024, two-thirds of respondents said they wanted their social media presence to become more private. Ari Levine, the head of brand partnerships at Tumblr, tells me the platform is both "more peaceful" and more resolutely itself than its competitors. Yahoo bought Tumblr when Tumblr was one of the world's fastest-growing social networks, and it promised not to "screw it up." How do we actually monetize people's intentions on social media versus the attention of them being around? "How do we actually monetize people's intentions on social media versus the attention of them being around?"

This Just In:
Gen Z and millennials are creating a recession-resistant corner of the market
NEWS | 02 April 2025
Gen Zers and millennials are spending big and helping insulate one area of the market from a recession: the wellness industry. "We believe there is an ongoing generational shift toward healthy habits, which is supportive of wellness stocks. Still, spending at fitness centers climbed 7% year over year, according to Bank of America card data, the largest increase in 19 months. On average, Gen Z households spend about 2.8 times the amount that baby boomers do on fitness, while millennials spend around three times as much, the bank said. Spending growth for nonalcoholic beer and seltzers has outpaced spending growth for the alcoholic version of those beverages for the past four years, BofA data found.

Today:
Elon Musk's Grok is making it easier to dunk on someone
NEWS | 02 April 2025
Lately, I've noticed something surprising on X: People are actually using Grok. The thing that I've noticed outside all that stuff is this new phenomenon of asking Grok questions in a reply to a post. Typically, a person is asking Grok — Elon Musk's ChatGPT competitor —to explain the context of a tweet or to verify if something in the tweet is true. (Note: I'm talking about publicly asking @Grok as a reply to a post on X — not the private conversations you can have with Grok.) They're using Grok as an AI dunk assistant.

Top Stories:
I quit my Big 4 accounting career to fry chicken. Working in corporate is like being stuck in the matrix — I'll never go back.
NEWS | 02 April 2025
After working as an accountant for multiple companies, including Big Fours, I left my corporate career to open a fried chicken franchise. I didn't have an impressive résumé, but I applied, interviewed, and got hired as a senior tax associate at Deloitte. Working at Deloitte opened up many doorsEveryone majoring in accounting hopes to one day work at a Big Four. After working at Burger King as a senior tax specialist, I was referred to Accenture in 2011 as a senior consultant by a former colleague. As a senior tax manager, the salary I left behind was just under $160,000.

World:
Eight friends built a 'secret mall apartment.' They carried in a sectional sofa, a table, and more without anyone noticing.
NEWS | 02 April 2025
A look inside the secret apartment in the middle of Providence Place Mall. A look inside the secret apartment in the middle of Providence Place Mall. "I just had this idea: Oh, we should live in the mall," Valdez Young, an artist, said in a new documentary. Michael Townsend climbs up a ladder to where he and his friends built a hideout deep within Providence Place Mall. Townsend recently attended screenings of the "Secret Mall Apartment" documentary at Providence Place itself, according to local newspaper The Providence Journal.

Current Events:
Elijah Wood says the 'Lord of the Rings' cast's low salaries on the multibillion-dollar trilogy were 'understandable'
NEWS | 02 April 2025
Elijah Wood and Cate Blanchett starred in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Mat Hayward/Getty Images for IMDb; Gareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesThis story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. The classic 2001 film "Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" may have launched a multibillion-dollar fantasy trilogy, but star Elijah Wood said the offer he got to play Frodo Baggins wasn't exactly the payday of a lifetime — and he's OK with that. Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins in "Lord of the Rings." Related stories Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to knowWhile Blanchett didn't share specific numbers, several other "LOTR" stars have disclosed their salaries.

News Flash:
After growing up in the US and traveling to 90 countries, there was only one place I could see myself living in.
NEWS | 02 April 2025
The truth is, I've fallen in love with a lot of places during my world travels to 90 countries. A few times, I was tempted to put down roots after making friends in Turkey or enjoying the incredible food in Southeast Asia. While Turkey was amazing, it felt more like a place to experience on vacation than a place where I could put down roots. My reason for choosing Mexico over the incredible countries I visited during my time in Asia wasn't that I couldn't see myself living there. With a perfect climate year-round, friendly people, affordable living, and a small-town feel, Guanajuato is my forever home.